Oscilating cloth folder having movable cloth hanger

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a cloth folding machine comprising a means for feeding beltlike sheets of cloth downward, a guide means for horizontally oscillating the cloth by interlocking with the cloth feeding means, a cloth holding means for pressing the cloth to a hanging means thereof, whereby the rolled beltlike sheet of cloth is uncoiled to be again folded in an alternate direction and the resultant foldings are suspended alternately on the right and left sides of the cloth hanging means.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Takeshi Ebisu 39 MurasakinoSekiryu-cho Kita-ku, Kyoto-shi. Japan [21] Appl. No. 768,340

[22] Filed Oct. 17,1968

[45] Patented July 6, 1971 [32] Priority Oct. 26, 1967 1 Japan [54]OSCILATING CLOTH FOLDER HAVING MOVABLE CLOTH HANGER 12 Claims, 17Drawing Figs.

- [52] U.S.Cl 270/79, 270/30 [51] Int. Cl B65h 45/20 [50] Field otSearch270/79, 30

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,480,517 1/1924 Doolittle270/79 1,624,060 4/1927 Nanterme 270/79 2,265,458 12/1941 Stafford eta1. 270/79 2,855,196 10/1958 Quirk 270/79 3,355,164 1 1/1967 Stulman270/79 Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell Assistant Examinerl.. R.Oremland Atmrney- Flynn and Frishauf ABSTRACT: This invention relates toa cloth folding machine comprising a means for feeding beltlike sheetsof cloth downward, a guide means for horizontally oscillating the clothby interlocking with the cloth feeding means, a cloth holding means forpressing the cloth to a hanging means thereof, whereby the rolledbeltlike sheet of cloth is uncoiled to be again folded in an alternatedirection and the resultant foldings are suspended alternately on theright and left sides of the cloth hanging means.

PATENTED JUL 6 1971 FIG. 1

SHEET 1 BF ,7

INVEN'I'OR.

PATENTED JUL BIS?! 3,591, 166

SHEET 2 or 7 PIC-3.3

PATENTEU JUL s 1971 SHEEI 3 0F 7 FIG.5A

PATENTED JUL 6197i SHEET b 0F 7 PATENTED JUL 6 m1 SHEET '5 [IF 7PATENTEDJUL slsm 3.591.166

SHEET 6 BF 7 -FIG.IIA

PATENTEDJUL 6|97i 3,591,165

' SHEEI'IOF? FIG.I1B

v i i OSCILATING CLOTH FOLDER HAVING MOVABLE CLOTH HANGER The presentinvention relates to a cloth folding machine for uncoiling rolledbeltlike cloth sheeting so as to be again folded in an alternatedirection.

In general, woven and finished cloth is either transferred to a dyeingprocess or directly supplied to the market as a plain 1 product. Todescribe the finishing process, with silk taken as an example, the silkyarn is sized with starch or the like before being woven into fabric.The sized fabric is generally stripped of the sizing agent by beingdipped in suds or a treating liquid such as a solution of sodiumcarbonate.

There will now be described the folding of fabric particularly preparedfor use as a Kimono. While, in a very small percentage of large works,rolled woven fabric is uncoiled as it is to be continuously subjected toa finishing step, the customary practice is to cut beltlike clothsheeting into a prescribed length (say, about 53 or I meters) andsubject these cut lengths of cloth to a finishing process. If, in thiscase, the rolled cloth is dipped in a treating liquid, the sizing agentwill not be fully removed. In general, therefore, the cloth is folded inan alternate direction before being dipped in such liquid. Also afterthe cloth is dyed, it is cut into lengths of 23 or 46 meters to providerequirements for one person and folded in an alternate direction so asto ease subsequent handling.

As mentioned above, during the process whereby beltlike sheets of wovenfabric is made into a Kimono, it undergoes repeated cycles of beingrolled and then uncoiled so as to be folded in an alternate direction.Since this folding step is not adapted for mechanical mass production,almost all of it is at the present moment performed by hand domesticallyon a small scale. The manual folding of tremendous quantities of clothis not only a heavy burden to the operator, but also is handicapped byextremely low efficiency. Moreover, this type of work requires anappreciable degree of skill, so that difficulties have been experiencedin obtaining trained workers.

On the other hand, large plants fold cloth by mechanical means. Thefolding machine heretofore used consists of a bed on which the clothforwarded from the taken-up roll is placed after being folded and aguide for cloth so disposed as to travel back and forth with anoscillating motion in a horizontal direction over the bed thereby tocause the cloth to be folded in an alternate direction. When the guideis retracted, the folded edge of cloth is pressed down to the bed by akeep arm fitted to both lengthwise ends of the bed.

The above-described type of folding machine is extremely bulky as awhole and has a complicated arrangement. Moreover, as described above,the folded edge of cloth is forcefully pressed to the bed with theresultant creation of deep creases. Accordingly, the machine can not beused, with soft fabric particularly such as silk cloth, whose commercialvalue will be drastically reduced if creases are generated in thetexture. Thus the conventional folding apparatus had the drawback thatits bulkiness naturally led to high cost and required a large space.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide acompact apparatus for mechanically carrying out the folding of clothwhich has heretofore mainly depended on manual operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cloth folding machinewhich prevents creases from being created in the folded cloth.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cloth folding machinewhich permits cloth to be easily folded in a single, double or multiplesheet.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cloth folding machinewherein the last folding of one folding cycle representing a specifiedlength of cloth sheeting is made during operation to be suspended longerthan the preceding ones included in said cycle, so that the cloth isalways divisible in said specified length by cutting the bottom end ofthe last folding ofeach folding cycle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is intended to provide acloth folding machine comprising a means for progressively feedingbeltlike cloth sheeting downward, a detachable cloth hanging meansarranged in a horizontal direction below the cloth feeding means, thehanging means being cyclically movable to predetermined positions oneither side of the plane in which the cloth is fed a pair of clothholding means contacting the 0 cloth hanging means alternately beinterlocking with the means for moving the hanging means whereby thecloth forwarded by the feeding means is folded alternately on the rightand left sides ofthe cloth hanging means.

There will now be described the present invention by reference to theembodiments illustrated in the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a plan view of a cloth folding machine according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the same;

FIG. 3 is a lateral view of the machine of FIG. 1 with the outer paneltaken off and a part of the inner panel broken away;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a part of a metal plate fitted to thecloth hanging rod of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 5A to 5C are schematic diagrams showing a series of steps offolding cloth;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of another embodiment of the invention, with apart broken away;

FIG. 7 is a lateral view of FIG. 6 with the outer panel taken off;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of only the handle for operating the clothhanging rod of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 schematically shows the condition in which the cloth folded to aprescribed length is suspended from the cloth hanging rod;

FIG. 10 schematically presents the arrangement of a different embodimentfrom that of FIG. '7;

FIGS. 11A and 11B are diagrammatical illustrations ofa different clothfolding operation from that shown in FIGS. 5A to SC; and

FIGS. 12A to 12C diagrammatically indicate the condition of cloth foldedby various methods.

Throughout the figures, numerals I and 2 are inner panels spatiallydisposed so as to face each other. Further outside of these inner panelsI and 2 are spatially located outer panels 3 and 4. On the front andback sides respectively of the folding machine are provided spacingmaterials 5 and 6 in a manner to penetrate these inner and outer panels1, 2, 3 and 4 at right angles thereby to constitute a frame member 7together with said panels. The frame member 7 is raised above the floorby the legs 8 projecting downward from the bottom of each of the panels.

There is provided a fixed shaft F so as to penetrate the upper centralpart of the inner and outer panels 1, 2, 3 and 4 at right angles. Belowthe fixed shaft 9 in the forward direction is positioned a hollow shaft10 in parallel to said shaft 9 in a manner to rotate between the innerpanels I and 2. Further below the hollow shaft 10 is located a drivingshaft 11 so as to penetrate the inner panels I and 2 and one of theouter panels 3 and rotate therethrough.

To the central part of the hollow shaft 10 is attached a driving rollerI2. To that end of the hollow shaft of said roller 10 projecting intothe space between the inner panel I and outer panel 3 is fixed a chaingear 1.3av And to the driving shaft 11 opposite to the chain gear I3 isfitted another chain gear 14. These gears are connected by an endlessroller chain 15. To that end of the driving shaft 11 extending outsideof the outer panel 3 is fixed a handle I6.

Spatially from the outer circumferential surface of the driving roller12 are arranged a plurality of (four in this embodiment) shafts I7extending in a lengthwise direction. On each of the shafts 17 are fixeda plurality of guide rollers 18 spatially from each other. Over theouter circumferential surface of these guide rollers 18 and drivingroller 12 are stretched a plurality of endless belts 19.

The driven roller which is made to rotate in contact with the drivingroller 12 is rotatably suspended from the fixed shaft 9 by a pairoflevers Zll. From the outer ends of the levers 21 are projecting aplurality of arms 22 in the radial direction of'the driven roller 2t).And between the arms 22 positioned opposite to each other, with thedriven roller 2% intervening therebetween, are provided shafts 23 in amanner to bridge the arms 22. On these shafts 23 are fixed guide rollers24 spatially from each other, and over the outer circumferential sur--faces of the guide rollers 24 and driven roller 2% are stretched endlessbelts 25. The aforesaid cloth feeding means is composed of the rollers12 and 20 and endless belts l9 and 25.

On the other hand, the hollow shaft ill has a cam shaft inserted intoit. To that part of the cam shaft 26 facing the outer surface of theinner panel 2 is attached a chain gear 27, and to that part of thedriving shaft ll opposite to the chain gear 27 is fitted another chaingear 28. These chain gears 27 and 28 are connected to each other by anendless roller chain 29. Both ends of the cam shaft 2 5 are fitted witha cam plate 30. On the outside of each cam plate Elli is positioned aprojecting pin 3ll in an eccentrical relation with the cam shaft, and tothis pin 31 is rotatably fitted a lever As shown in FIG. 3, there areprovided a pair of oscillating arms 33 rotatably supported at one end bythe fixed shaft in the middle of the oscillating arm 33 is perforated agroove 34, and at the bottom end of the arm 33 is formed a book 35.Between the hooks 35 of the oscillating arms 33 is detachably fitted arod 36 constituting the cloth hanging means together with said hooks 35.As illustrated in FlG. for example, the hanging of cloth may be effectedby causing the cloth to be attached'to both sides ofa metal plate 38provided with a hook 37 at the top by a force of attraction generated bythe static energy of the cloth.

Through the substantially central part of the inner panels is inserted apin 39, both ends of which project from the panels. To the projectingends of the pin are fitted guide levers ill in such a manner that themiddle part of the lever 4t can rotate around the pin 39. The outer endsof both aforementioned lever 32 and guide lever 40 are rotatablyconnected by a pin '41 which is slidably inserted into the groove 34 ofthe oscillating arm 33.

There are provided a pair of guide plates 42 for guiding the cloth in amanner to bridge the lower lateral sides of the guide levers 40. Theguide plates d2 are so arranged as to allow a broader space at the upperpart than at the bottom part. On the lateral face of the guide plate arespatially disposed keep arms 43 for engaging the cloth and which aremade of elastic material such as a spring plate. These keep arms 43project from the lateral face of the guide plate 42 at a prescribedangle. To the ends of these keep arms 43 is fitted a press plate 44.When the guide lever 44B horizontally oscillates the keep pressplate 44is made to contact the cloth hanging member 36 or 38.

There will now be described by reference to FlGS. 3 and 5 the operationand functioning of a cloth folding machine according to theaforementioned embodiment.

The feed end of the rolled cloth a is uncoiled and inserted into thecontact area between the driving roller 112 and driven roller 20. Whenthe handle 16 rotates clockwise as illustrated, the driving roller 12rotates similarly clockwise through the chain gears 14 and 13 andendless roller chain and the belt '19 also rotates by sliding over theguide roller l8. Thus the driven roller 20 and belt 25 contacting thedriving roller 11?. rotate counterclockwise, and the cloth a isprogressively forwarded downward by being clamped between the rollers "2and 20 and the belts 119 and 25.

On the other hand, the clockwise rotation of the handle lid causes thecam shaft 26 to rotate similarly clockwise by interlocking with thechain gear 28 and 27 and endless roller chain 29, followed by therotation of the cam plates 36*. Accordingly, the resultant movement ofthe cranks of the levers 32 fitted to the cam plates 30 causes theoscillating arms 33 to rotate right and left around the fixed shaft 9,making a sectorial motion. The aforementioned movement of the crank ofthe lever 32 also causes the guide lever ll) to make a sectorial motionaround the pin 39 in the opposite direction to the movement oftheoscillating arm 33.

There will now be described by reference to FIGS. 5A to 5C a series ofsteps of folding the cloth a using the cloth hanging rod 36. initially,the feed end of the cloth a is suspended on the right side of the rod 36as illustrated in FIG. 5A, and the guide plate l2 subsequently shifts tothe left side. Conversely, where the guide plate 4.? moves to the rightside, the cloth a is suspended on the left side of the rod 36. Therotation of the handle to causes the guide plate 42 to be driven to theleft side and the rod 36 to be driven to the right side. When the keeparm of the guide plate 42 contacts the rod 36, the cloth a stops fallingto the right side of the rod 36, thus forming one U shaped folding. Atthis time the guide plate 42 is positioned on the left side of theperpendicular passing through the rod 36, causing the cloth a to besuspended on the left side of the rod (H0. 53). Next when the rod 36again shifts to the left and the guide plate 321 to the right as shownin FIG. 5C, there is formed on the left side of the rod as anotherU-shaped folding held by the keep arm 43. When the steps represented byF2 63. and 5C are subsenuently repeated the cloth a is alternativelyfolded on the left and right sides of the rod 36. In

- this case, it is required to adjust the space between the keep arm 4.3and the rod 3d as more foldings of cloth are increasingly hung onthe rodSince, in this embodiment, the keep arm 33 is formed from a springplate, such adjustment can be effected by the flexure of the springplate.

Finally, the cloth a presents a successively folded state as illustratedin FIG. 3, bringing the folding operation to an end. Then the foldedcloth is taken off the hooks 35 of the folding machine together with thecloth hanging rod 36 and then the rod is pulled out of the cloth. Whenthe foldings of cloth which have been suspended from both sides of therod are laid flat after its removal, the foldings on either side presentthe state shown in FEG. 12A, in which a single sheet ofcloth is foldedin layers. Where a double sheet of cloth is to be folded, it is onlyrequired to cause the forward and rear ends of unfolded cloth (as laterdescribed) to be superposed, again feed the superposed sheets throughthe rollers and fold and hang them on the rod 3i) in the same manner asdescribed above. The cloth thus folded is brought to the state shown inFIG. 123. If it is desired to divide the double sheeting of cloth, afterbeing folded, into two separate parts, then it is only required to cutthe bottom end of the last folding of one folding cycle. Accordingli,the folded form of FIG. $28 is convenient to the cloth fabricator at thetime the product is delivered to a buyer.

in the foregoing embodiment, the driven roller 20 was made to besuspended from the fixed shaft 9 by the lever 21 so as to be detachablytitted to the driving roller 12. However, it will be apparent that thedriven roller 20 may be disposed between the inner panels 5": and TB insuch a manner that the shaft of said roller 269 can be adjustably movedby a suitable means toward the driving roller in the crosswise directionof the frame body.

There will now be described by reference to FIGS. 6 to 10 anotherembodiment of the present invention which makes the cloth feeding meansoperable not only by a driving source consisting of a motor or the likebut also by hand. Throughout the figures, numerals Mill and W2 representinner panels spatially disposed so as to face each other. Numerals W3and 104i denote outer panels spatially arranged outside of the innerpanels Mill and. 332 respectively. At the front and rear parts of thefolding machine are positioned spacing members 105 and in a manner topenetrate these inner and outer panels lflfi, and MM at right anglesthereto, forming a frame body 3437 together with said panels. At theupper rear part of the inner panels MM and M92 respectively is formed ahook These paired hooks llllfl enable to frame body 1107 to be fixed toa fitting member (not shown).

There is provided a fixed shaft ms in a manner to penetrate the uppercentral part of the inner and outer panels H01, 102, red and MM. Belowthe fixed shaft 109 in the forward direction and parallel thereto isrotatably disposed a driving shaft 110 penetrating the front centralpart of the inner panels cylindrical drum 112, and to one end-of thehollow shaft 111 is fixed a chain gear 114 by means of a one-way clutch1130f a lock which turns only rightwardas viewed from the right side. Tothe adjacent driving shaft 1 -is attached a chain gear 116 similarly bymeans of a one-way clutch 115. These chain gears 114 and 1 16 areconnected to a handoperatingmeans.

There will now be described the hand operating means. There is provideda hollowshaft 117 in a mannerto penetrate the outer panel 103 and innerpanel 101'. To the end of the hollow shaft 117 extending outside of theouter panel 103 is fitted a handle 118; The grip 119 of the handle 1:18vis allowed to be brought down towardthe center of the hollow shaft 117.When the grip 119 is so brought down a shaft 122 slidably inserted intothe hollow shaft 117 is shifted leftward by means of rotatable levers120 and 121'. To the left end of the slidable shaft 122 is fitted aclutch 123rotatably around said shaft 122. The clutch 123 is made toconnect or separate, as occasion demands, a driving shaft 124penetrating the left outer panel 104 and inner panel 102 and a hollowshaft 125' surrounding said driving shaft 124 and slidable along thecircumferential surface of said shaft 124. To the left end of the hollowshaft 117 interlocking with the handle 118' is fitted a chain gear 126,which is connected to the chain .gear 114 by means of an endless rollerchain 127. On the hollow shaft 117 are positioned the aforesaid chaingear 126 andanother gear 128' adjacent thereto. This gear 128 registerswith av gear 130 mounted on a shaft 129 which is disposed parallel tothe hol low shaft 117. On the shaft 129 isfixed a chain gear 131 whichis connected to the chain gear 116 by means of an endless roller chain132. Accordingly, the clockwise rotation of the handle 118 only resultsin therotation of the drum 112', and its anticlockwise rotation onlycauses the driving shaft 110 to rotate.

To the hollow shaft 125- adjacent to the inner panel 102 are fitted twochain gears 133 and 134 parallel to each other. To the left end of thedriving shaft 110 is attached achain' gear 136 by means of the one-wayclutch 135 of a lock rotating only leftward as viewed from the leftside. This chain gear 136 is connected to another chain gear 133' by anendless roller chain 137 Similarly to the left end of the hollow shaft."1, to

which is fitted the drum "'2, is attached a chain gear 139 by theone-way clutch 138 of a lock rotating only leftward as viewed from theleft side. These chain gears 139 and 134 are connected to each other byan endless roller chain 140. On the lower left side of the spacingmember 105 is positioned a fitting plate 141, on which is mounted areduction gear assembly 144 consisting of chain gears 142 and 143. Thechain gear 142 is connected toa chain gear 146 mounted on the drivingshaft 124 by means of an endless roller chain 145. To the spacing member105 is secured a motor. 148 by fitting means 147, and on the shaft 149of the motor 148 is mounted a chain gear 150. The chain gear 150 and thechain gear 143 of the reduction gear assembly 144 are mutually connectedby an endless roller chain 151. When the driving shaft 124 and hollowshaft 125 are mutually connected by the engagement of the clutch 123,the rotation of the motor 148 transmitted to the driving shaft 124through the reduction gear assembly 144 causes the hollow shaft 125 torotate by engagement with the clutch 123, thus resulting in the rotationof both driving shaft 110 and hollow shaft 111 by interlocking with thechain gears 133, 136, 134 and 139 and endless roller chains 137 and 140.

As shown in FIG. 7, it the front and rear parts of the lower outercircumferential surface of the drum 112 are spatially provided aplurality of shafts 152 parallel to the driving shaft 110. On theseshafts 152 are rotatably mounted a suitable number of (two in thisembodiment) guide rollers 153. Over the outer circumferential surface ofthese guide rollers 153 and that of the drum 112 is stretched an endlessbelt 154 so as to rotate along with the drum 112.

On the fixed shaft 109 is rotatably mounteda-driven roller 155 made of,for example, rubber. At two points which define an approximatelytriangular plane'with one end of the fixed shaft 109 are provided aplurality of shafts 156. Spatially on these shafts 156 are rotatablymounted an appropriate number of guide rollers 157. Over the outercircumferential surface of theroller 155 and that of the guide rollers157 are stretched a plurality of endless belts 158. And the drivenroller 155 and endless belt 158 are made to contact the drum. Y112 andendless belt 154 respectively in the center of the folding machine, thusconstituting a cloth feeding means, which causes the cloth to beintroducedto said contact area due to the rotation of the drum andfurther brought downward.

There willnow be described a guide means for oscillating the cloth and amember on which to hang it. To both ends of the driving shaft "0-extending outside of the inner panels 101 and 102 is fitted a disc 159.At an eccentric position on the disc 159 relative to the driving. shaft110 is provided a pin 160 in a projectingmanner. To this pin. 160 isrotatably fitted one end of a lever 1:61.

As shown in FIG. 6, at both ends of the fixed shaft 109'extendingoutside of the inner panels 101 and 1.02 is positioned an L-shapedoscillating arm 162, one end of which is rotatably supported by thefixed shaft 109. The middle part. of the oscillating arm 162 and theother end. of the lever 161- are rotatably connected to each other by apin 163. Referring now to FIG. 8- (including its extension, though notshown), there is provided a shaft in such a manner that it penetratesthe furthest end of each oscillating arm 162' and that one end of saidshaft 165 is fitted with a handle lever 164. On the shaft 165- arerotatably supporteda. pair of arms 1.66 by means of roller bearing.Between these arms 166- is positioned a rod 167 on which to hang thefolded cloth. To the handle lever 164 is fitted-a handle 168 capable ofsliding at. right angles thereto. The inner end of theshaft 169 of thehandle 168 fits in with a recess 170 formed at the bend of a pairofoscillating arms 162. When the cloth is folded, said inner end of theshaft 169 of the handle 168 is introduced into the recess 1700f one ofthe oscillating arms 162', thereby to cause the ends of the clothhanging rod 167' to fit in with a slight depression (not shown) formedon the opposite side of each oscillating arm 162 to the aforementionedrecess 170.

Approximately inv the center of the inner panels 101 and 102 is fixed aprojecting pin 171 which supports one of a rotatable lever 172. To theother end of the lever 172 is rotatably fitted by means of a pin 173 themiddle part of a pair of guide levers 174. The upper end of the guidelever 174 is rotatably connected to the. other end of the lever 161 bymeans of the pin 163. The lower part of each guide lever 174 consists ofa flat broad section tapering downward. A pair of guide plates 175 arerespectively fitted to each side of the tapered section of the pairedguide levers 174 in a manner to bridge them. Thus these guide. plates175 are more spaced from each other at the upper end than at the lowerend so as to allow the cloth to pass between. them with great case.

On the lateral surface of each guide plate 175 are spatially disposed aplurality of keep arms 176 for holding the cloth. These keep arms 176are made of elastic material such as a spring plate, and project fromthe surface at a prescribed angle. To the furthest end of the keep arm176 is fitted a keep plate 177. When the guide lever 174 oscillatesright and left, the keep plate 177' is made alternately to contact theright and left sides of the cloth hanging rod 167.

There will now be described the operation and function of-a clothfolding machine according to the aforementioned em-.

bodiment. The feed end portion of a roll of cloth a is uncoiled andintroduced to the contact area between the drum 112 and driven roller155. Initially, the sliding shaft 122 is shifted rightward by operatingthe handle 118 to disengage the clutch 123. Thereafter when the handle118 rotates clockwise, the

the feedend of the cloth a to be conducted downward through the pairedguide plates 175 and suspended on one side of the 8 under the guideplate 175 thereby to fold and hang the remaining half d of the cloththereon. Next the first group c of cloth hanging rod 167. Then the grip119 of the handle 118 is reduction gear assembly 144, and the hollowshaft 125 also rotates by engagement with the clutch 123. Thus the drum112 and driving shaft 110 rotate by interlocking with the chain gears133, 136, 134 and 139 and endless rollerchains 137 and 140. The rotationofthe driving shaft 1 10 leads to the rotation of the discs 159 fittedthereto. As shown in FIG. 7, the rotation of the discs 159 and theeccentric movement of the pin 160 result in the elliptic rotation of thelever 161, causing the oscillating arm 162 to make a sectorial motion.Also the elliptic rotation of the lever 161 causes the guide lever 174to oscillate around the pin 173 in the opposite direction to theoscillating arm 162. This folding operation using a motor is the same asin the foregoingembodimentand description thereof is omitted. Uponcompletion of folding, the motor v148 is stopped. Thereafter, as shownin'FlG. 8, the shaft 169 of the handle 168 is down from the recess 170for disengagement and the handle 168 is brought downward to cause the,rod 167 to rotate downward as shown by the broken line of FIG. 7.Accordingly, all that is required to do later is to takethe folded clothoff the rod 167. I

There will now be describedthe casewhere the cloth is cut to aprescribed length after being folded,using the present cloth foldingmachine. In this case a fitting plate 200 is attached to the shaftl56 asshown by the broken line of FIG. 7. On this plate is mounted a rotameter201. The driving wheel 202 of the rotameter'201 is made to contact thedrum 112 so as to rotate with the feeding of cloth. The length of foldedcloth is measured by the number of rotations of the driving wheel 202.To this end, the switch built in the rotameter 201 is so set as to stopthe rotation of the motor 148 when the counter on the rotameterindicates that the cloth already folded has reached a prescribed length.

Now let it be assumed that after being folded, a long piece of cloth isdivided into two equal portions measuring X meters after being folded.After folding by motor is brought to an end, that portion of clothforming the last folding of one folding cycle is drawn out longer byhand to a certain extent (Ymeters) than those representing the precedingfoldings of said cycle so as to cause the bottom end of the last foldingto hand further down by the length Y meters/2 than those of the otherholdings. Namely, it is'only required tocause the length (X meter Ymeters) of cloth to be automatically folded by a motor. In this case therotameter is so actuated as to stop the motor when the length (X metersY meters) is folded. When this process is repeated there is obtained thefolded cloth in which the length of cloth extending between the bottomends b of the respective last foldings of two consecutive folding cyclesmeasures the specified length of Xmeters.

There will now be described the aforementioned multiple sheet folding asillustrated in FIG. 12C, the details of which will be described later.The main folding mechanism of this embodiment is the same as that ofFIG. 7, excepting that the oscillating arm 162 is not used. As shown inFIG. 10, there is disposed on the right and left sides of the interiorof the folding machine respectively an endless roller chain 205 whichrotates around the outside of the inner panels 208 by being stretchedover chain gear 206. This rotation is caused by the rotation of thehandle 207 fitted to the main gear 2060. These gears 206 are fixed tothe inside surface of the paired outer roller chains-205.

As illustr'a'tedin FIG. "A, half the prescribed length c of foldings istaken off the first rod 209a and hung again thereon inside out so as tobring the forwardend eto the outside (as indicated by'the first group offoldings of H6. 118), all this operation being conducted by hand. Thenthe handle 207 is rotated for the second time to bring a third rod 2096under the guide plate 175. The forward end 2 of the first portio n c ofcloth and the rear end f of the second portion d are superposed to forma double sheet of cloth (in this case both groups of foldings are.unfolded), and this double sheet of cloth is again inserted between thedrum 122 and roller 155. Thereafter the first portion 3 of the doublesheet of cloth, is folded and hung on the third rod 209s and theremaining half h of the double sheet is folded and hung on a fourth rod209d which had already been brought under theguide plate after the motoris stopped. Next the first group 3 of the double sheet foldings is takenoff the third rod 20% and hung again thereon inside out so as to bringthe forward end e to the outside, all this operation being carried outby hand as in the folding cycle of FIG. 11A. The forward end e of thefirst group of the double sheet foldings and the rear end of the secondgroup of the double sheet foldings are superposed to form, a quadruplesheet. This quadruple sheet is'folded in the same manner as in thefolding cycle of FIG. 11A. As a series of such folding cycles arerepeated, the number of cloth sheets is double increased each time, andthe length of the suspended foldings of each cycle is reduced to halfthat of the preceding one. Thus there are finallyobtained the doublesheet foldings as shown' in H6. 12C.

' To eliminate the aforementioned troublesome steps involved in themultiple sheet folding operation, it it possible to provide an automaticcontrol device'(not shown) thereby automatically to stop a motor bydetecting the. number .of foldings already prepared. lf in this case,there is provided a disc 210 on the hollow shaft'l25 and a photoelectrictube de-' tector 211 adjacent to said disc 210, thenthe numberofrotations of the drum, namely, the total length of cloth supplied bythe drum can be measured by said detector. Where a sheet of cloth havinga length of, for example, 96 meters is to be folded in the form of amultiple sheet, with one oscillating cycle of the guide plate 175assumed to feed one meter of cloth, then it is only requiredautomatically to control, the operation of the motor 148 in such amanner that the first and second groups of foldings in thefirst foldingcycle respectively measure 48 meters, the first and second groups offoldings in the second folding cycle (using double sheet cloth)respectively measure 24 meters and the first and second groups offoldings in the third folding cycle (using quadruple sheet cloth)respectively measure 12 meters and so on. I

The present invention has been outlined by reference to theaforementioned embodiments. It will be apparent that the invention canbe practiced in various modifications, provided they fall within thescope of the patent claims attached hereto.

For instance, the foregoing embodiments involved a cloth holding meansdirectly fitted to a guide means. However, they may be separatelydisposed and made to interlock with each other by a connecting means orthe like. Further according to the aforesaid embodiments, it wasnecessary to replace a plurality of chain gear positioned on the variousshafts in order to adjust the lengths of cloth foldings. However, ifthere is used a suitable feed adjusting means capable of continuouslychanging the frequency of rotations of these gears, such replacementwill be unnecessary. The aforesaid embodiments used a drum or roller asa cloth feeding means. However, such feeding-may be carried out simpleby the rotation of a pair of endless belts. Also the cloth hanging meansconsisted of a round rod, but it may assume angular or triangular formsor columnar ones having a certain lateral width. The cloth hanging meanswas so arranged as to travel in the opposite direction to the movementof the guide means. However, said the guide means, as clearly seen fromFIG. 10.

What I claim is:

l. A cloth folding machine comprising:

means for progressively feeding downward a strip of cloth in asubstantially vertical plane;

a strip hanging means including at least one hanging member positionedbelow said cloth feeding means and having an upper edge horizontallyextending across the width of the strip being fed; 7

means for detachably supporting said strip hanging member;

means for cyclically and rapidly moving said supporting means toalternately locate said strip hanging member at predetermined positionson either side of said vertical plane, said moving means including amoving member having a pivot traveling along a circular locus and havinga portion engageable with said supporting means during the travel ofsaid pivot in two specific regions defined on the circular locus so asto move said supporting means and cause said strip hanging member to berapidly moved to either of said predetermined positions on either sideof said vertical plane; and

a pair of strip holding members for engaging the strip hung on saidhanging member when said hanging member is at predetermined positions oneither side of said vertical plane.

2. A cloth folding machine according to claim 1 comprising a frame andwherein:

said supporting means comprises a pair of supporting members swingablyattached to said frame, said moving member being engageable with atleast one of said sup porting members;

said feed means includes a pair of rotatable feed rollers; and

said pivot travels along said circular locus in association with therotation of said feed rollers.

3. A cloth folding machine according to claim 2 wherein:

a rotary member is disposed coaxially with the axis of at least one ofsaid feed rollers;

the pivot of said moving member is eccentrically attached to said rotarymember so as to define said circular locus;

the engaging portion of said supporting member includes a guide slotformed therein; and

the engaging portion of said moving member includes a pin slidablyinserted into said guide slot and engageable with edges of said slot.

4. A cloth folding machine according to claim 2 wherein said stripholding members include pivot members pivotally attached to said frameand which are engageable with said supporting members in the directionin which said supporting members swing, so that holding members areurged toward said hanging member in a direction opposite to thedirection of travel of said hanging member, thereby pressing the hungstrip to said hanging member.

5. A cloth feeding machine according to claim 4 further comprising guidemeans interposed between said feed means and hanging means and coupledto said pivot members, said guide means being movable in a directionopposite to that of the direction of travel of said hanging member, andsaid guide means being movable between positions located on either sideof said vertical plane.

6. A cloth folding machine according to claim 1 further comprising:

a driving means for jointly actuating both said strip feeding means andsaid moving means; a hand operating means provided separately from saiddriving means and including a handle; and

means for causing either of said driving means and hand operating meansto selectively communicate with said strip feeding means and with saidmoving means.

7. A cloth folding machine according to claim 1 wherein said hangingmember is a rod and said supporting means includes a hook for detachablysupporting said rod.

8. A cloth folding machine according to claim 1 further comprising amovable guide means positioned between said feeding means and saidhanging member for guiding said strip of cloth to said hanging member.

9. A cloth folding machine according to claim 8 wherein said guide meansis coupled to said moving means for movement in a direction opposite tothat of said hanging member.

10. A cloth folding machine according to claim 9 wherein said stripholding members are coupled to said guide means.

11. A cloth folding machine according to claim 1 wherein said hangingmeans includes a plurality of hanging members disposed at prescribedpositions relative to each other, and wherein said supporting and movingmeans include means for locating said hanging members for receiving saidfed strip one after another at prescribed intervals.

12. A cloth folding machine according to claim 1 comprising a frameincluding a pair of inner panels, said cloth feeding means and guidemeans being located between said inner panels, and said supporting meansbeing located outside of said inner panels and being movable relative tosaid inner panels.

1. A cloth folding machine comprising: means for progressively feeding downward a strip of cloth in a substantially vertical plane; a strip hanging means including at least one hanging member positioned below said cloth feeding means and having an upper edge horizontally extending across The width of the strip being fed; means for detachably supporting said strip hanging member; means for cyclically and rapidly moving said supporting means to alternately locate said strip hanging member at predetermined positions on either side of said vertical plane, said moving means including a moving member having a pivot traveling along a circular locus and having a portion engageable with said supporting means during the travel of said pivot in two specific regions defined on the circular locus so as to move said supporting means and cause said strip hanging member to be rapidly moved to either of said predetermined positions on either side of said vertical plane; and a pair of strip holding members for engaging the strip hung on said hanging member when said hanging member is at predetermined positions on either side of said vertical plane.
 2. A cloth folding machine according to claim 1 comprising a frame and wherein: said supporting means comprises a pair of supporting members swingably attached to said frame, said moving member being engageable with at least one of said supporting members; said feed means includes a pair of rotatable feed rollers; and said pivot travels along said circular locus in association with the rotation of said feed rollers.
 3. A cloth folding machine according to claim 2 wherein: a rotary member is disposed coaxially with the axis of at least one of said feed rollers; the pivot of said moving member is eccentrically attached to said rotary member so as to define said circular locus; the engaging portion of said supporting member includes a guide slot formed therein; and the engaging portion of said moving member includes a pin slidably inserted into said guide slot and engageable with edges of said slot.
 4. A cloth folding machine according to claim 2 wherein said strip holding members include pivot members pivotally attached to said frame and which are engageable with said supporting members in the direction in which said supporting members swing, so that holding members are urged toward said hanging member in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of said hanging member, thereby pressing the hung strip to said hanging member.
 5. A cloth feeding machine according to claim 4 further comprising guide means interposed between said feed means and hanging means and coupled to said pivot members, said guide means being movable in a direction opposite to that of the direction of travel of said hanging member, and said guide means being movable between positions located on either side of said vertical plane.
 6. A cloth folding machine according to claim 1 further comprising: a driving means for jointly actuating both said strip feeding means and said moving means; a hand operating means provided separately from said driving means and including a handle; and means for causing either of said driving means and hand operating means to selectively communicate with said strip feeding means and with said moving means.
 7. A cloth folding machine according to claim 1 wherein said hanging member is a rod and said supporting means includes a hook for detachably supporting said rod.
 8. A cloth folding machine according to claim 1 further comprising a movable guide means positioned between said feeding means and said hanging member for guiding said strip of cloth to said hanging member.
 9. A cloth folding machine according to claim 8 wherein said guide means is coupled to said moving means for movement in a direction opposite to that of said hanging member.
 10. A cloth folding machine according to claim 9 wherein said strip holding members are coupled to said guide means.
 11. A cloth folding machine according to claim 1 wherein said hanging means includes a plurality of hanging members disposed at prescribed positions relative to each other, and wherein said supporting and moving means include means for locating said hanging members for receiving saiD fed strip one after another at prescribed intervals.
 12. A cloth folding machine according to claim 1 comprising a frame including a pair of inner panels, said cloth feeding means and guide means being located between said inner panels, and said supporting means being located outside of said inner panels and being movable relative to said inner panels. 